Frankly, it’s a sad state of affairs when the industry actively discourages an artist from making socially-aware, positive music, but this is something that Mutah Beale faced in his transition from Outlaw to practising Muslim and motivational speaker...
In the second part of this candid, in-depth interview (part one) with The Wrap Up’s resident hip-hop specialist, Hannah O’Connor, he outlines his experience of the music business and how his relationship with Tupac Shakur impacted upon him.
The Wrap Up: Hip-hop as never been afraid to delve into the darker side of life, which can often be perceived by its critics as rather pessimistic. Is this merely a negative outlook in your opinion?
Mutah Beale: Well, for the people who are actually putting the record out, it's not negative at all because they're making a lot of money. The artists should be more responsible about the lyrics that we put out. The rapper who talk about all of the people he killed and all of the drugs he dealt – he didn't really live that life! We've got a lot of youngsters actually living their life by the lyrics they're putting out, they're making money off of their downfall and I think that’s wrong. They should at least explain to the people that it is also entertainment. It's not just the artists’ fault, but the people who listen have to be smart enough to know that this is entertainment. The Governor of California, he's not running around actually living the life of the ‘Terminator’, blowing up cars, but when it comes to the music, it's like the people do not understand that this is also entertainment. You've got rappers who can't even go to the hood, but in their raps, you'd think that they were the biggest gangster in the hood. The artists should be more responsible for what they're putting out. If this is the life you are truly living and this is all you know, then that's understandable, but if you're doing it just to make money, I think you should at least have a warning sticker saying, ‘This is not really how I live my life. This is just entertainment.’
TWU: When you look at artists as role models it’s difficult, because there are conflicting messages, which is understandable – nobody is perfect! Do you think that rappers realise the extent of their influence?
Mutah Beale: If you start travelling around the world, then you’re not in touch with the people on the streets. The rappers get in to this world and they're no longer connected to the streets, so they might not even know the effect that they have on the people. Many of them are walking around with bodyguards; they're not able to go talk to the people. When you connect with the people, you start to understand the real effect. One of the things that Pac used to do was mix with the people, walk down the street in the hood and speak to the people. He had people telling him, ‘Man, when I heard you say that, it made me cry.’ You can't always blame the rappers because in the industry and the entertainment business, they promote a certain type of music. You have these artists and when they do try to become positive, the record label doesn't even give them support, but if they come out with disrespectful lyrics and talking this stuff, they support that. When I first accepted the religion of Islam, I wanted to be positive and I did a solo album with Johnny J (multi-platinum producer prominently featured on 2Pac’s album, ‘All Eyez On Me’). I remember I had a meeting with someone from Virgin Records, I'd done a record that was positive and he didn't want to hear that. They said they'd give me one million dollars if I come back being a member of Tha Outlawz and start back the beef that Pac had with Mobb Deep. Of course, I walked away from them.
TWU: That's a terrible thing and it says an awful lot about the business. There is so much pressure for artists to be this 'gangsta' that they may not be...
Mutah Beale: The majority of rappers are not living the life that they say – I’d say 99% of them aren’t and that's the sad part. It's misleading the kids. The majority of the messages are separated from the reality.
TWU: Sure. So, do you feel that through your community work you’re able to reach the people in a more positive way?
Mutah Beale: I feel the way that I used to feel when I was on tour with Pac, because one of the reasons I got into the music industry was because I always felt like I had a message and I wanted to put that message out there. So, I've been going around and I'm able to speak to kids all over the world. It's the same as the music industry, but without the beats and without the hate that comes with it. It's more on an intimate level, so I'm able to have conversations with individuals that might not be able to speak back to me on a record. They're able to ask me a question. To me, this is a lot better.
TWU: Speaking of life with Tupac, if you could change one thing when Pac was alive, what would it be?
Mutah Beale: I would change him getting into that fight with that individual in Vegas that night. I can’t change it, though. It was written...
Don’t miss the third and final part of this in-depth interview, coming soon to MTV UK’s The Wrap Up. Until then, stay up to date with Mutah Beale on Twitter
Words: Hannah O'Connor (@HipHopSuperhan)
Online editing: Joseph 'JP' Patterson (@Jpizzledizzle)
